IPG awarded contract to supply fiber lasers to German automaker

IPG Photonics Corp., a manufacturer of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers, has announced that its German subsidiary, IPG Laser GmbH, has received a major order for multi-kilowatt, continuous wave Ytterbium fiber laser systems totaling 63kW in power from the BMW Group in Munich, Germany.

These high power fiber lasers will be used in the new production line at BMW Group for the welding of automotive doors. The contract represents the first large-scale production use of fiber laser systems for the German automobile manufacturer.

IPG was selected after extensive research and testing by BMW Group. BMW Group has used IPG's high power fiber lasers in production for several years. The lasers, which would be manufactured at IPG's facility in Burbach, Germany, are scheduled to be delivered in 4Q08.

BMW Group purchased IPG's fiber lasers with the company's newly released integrated cooling system. The systems are also equipped with an integrated beam switch and flexible processing fibers.

IPG sells cost-effective Ytterbium fiber laser systems for a variety of materials processing applications in a number of different industries. These kilowatt-class fiber lasers range in power from 1kW to 50 kW, operating in continuous or modulated modes up to 20 kHz with wall-plug efficiencies of >25%.

For more information, please visit www.ipgphotonics.com.